FIREMEN Tim Fensome and Paul Nugent are proud to protect Salford, the city where they were born and raised.

FIREMEN Tim Fensome and Paul Nugent are proud to protect Salford, the city where they were born and raised.

Between them have 45 years' service and during that time they have been attacked by a mindless few as they try to save lives and property.

Paul, 40, is based at the Liverpool Street station, whose crews have been targeted for years.

Last month the windscreen of an engine was damaged with air gun pellets as firefighters tackled a blaze in Ordsall.

Elsewhere in the city a windscreen was shattered when it was speared with piece of fence, crews in Broughton were threatened with knives after being lured into an ambush, a senior officer needed two months off work after being hit with a brick and hoses have been cut as crews dealt with incidents.

Alcohol

Paul, branch chairman of the Fire Brigades Union, who is originally from Lower Broughton, said: "We go out expecting trouble. It is always at the back of our minds.

"I was on the Moss Side and Salford border and we turned out to a fire involving a motorbike. There were a load of youths there and one had got the battery off the bike and was going to throw it at the crews. I took the battery out of his hands and we were then pelted with the exhaust pipe off the bike and bricks."

Tim, 44, FBU branch secretary, who is based at Agecroft station, was brought up in Ordsall.

He said: "We had to deal with a bonfire in Swinton. I got hit in the face with a stone and saw two lads running off, giggling."

Both agree that attacks have become more serious in recent years.

Tim said: "You seem to have large groups of youths drinking and that mixed with being on the street and boredom causes problems. The alcohol seems to numb any fear they have of us."